Get you up to speed: Elena Rybakina retains Ningbo title, wins first trophy as world number one
Elena Rybakina defeated Leylah Fernandez 6-2 6-2 in the Ningbo Open final, retaining her title and winning her first trophy as the world number one. The victory marks a significant step towards securing the year-end number one ranking for Rybakina.
Elena Rybakina’s victory at the Ningbo Open marks her first title as the world number one, bolstering her position ahead of the WTA Finals scheduled for November 8. Following her triumph, Rybakina will participate in the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo this week before defending her championship at the season finale in Indian Wells.
Elena Rybakina’s victory in Ningbo has bolstered her position as the year-end world number one, as she prepares for the upcoming WTA Finals in Indian Wells starting November 8. Following her recent triumph, Rybakina aims to maintain momentum at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo this week.
What remains unclear — It is not specified how Rybakina’s recent victories have influenced her preparation for the upcoming Pan Pacific Open.
Elena Rybakina wins Ningbo Open, secures first trophy as world number one
Sport|TennisElena Rybakina retains Ningbo title, wins first trophy as world number one
The victory helped the Kazakh take a big step towards securing the year-end number one ranking.
Published On 25 Oct 202625 Oct 2026
Elena Rybakina blazed past unseeded Canadian Leylah Fernandez 6-2 6-2 in the Ningbo Open final to retain her title and lift her first trophy as the world number one ahead of the WTA Finals next month.
The victory on Sunday also helped the Kazakh take a big step towards securing the year-end number one ranking, further burnishing a spectacular season in which she won the Australian Open title before adding the US Open crown to reach the summit.
Top seed Rybakina made the breakthrough with her trademark power in the fifth game and then unleashed a searing crosscourt backhand winner to go 4-2 up, before the 27-year-old wrapped up the opening set in only 38 minutes.
World number 30 Fernandez made a bright start to the next set but Rybakina absorbed the pressure and raised her level to force an error and break for 2-1, with the three-time Grand Slam champion breezing to victory from there.
Rybakina’s latest triumph is a timely lift after setbacks in Beijing and Wuhan, as she turns her attention to the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo this week before launching her title defence at the season finale in Indian Wells from November 8.